After several hours of research, I finally made my selection of the 6 best shoe cabinets among more than twenty models available at the moment. My favorite is the Maisons du Monde Cottage , a high-end decorative and compact model which proves to be perfect in the entry, solo or combined with another element if space allows. You will also find at the end of this article a buying guide to choose the shoe cabinet perfectly suited to your needs.
The best cheap shoe furniture
There is a wide variety of models at very low prices, but vigilance is essential.
For classic furniture with drawers, we will examine the quality of the materials, and in particular the hardware. For the models intended for the wardrobe or the dressing room, we will check the solidity of the fasteners as well as the care given to the finishes of the lockers.
Ikea Bissa : the best cheap
When it comes to functional and inexpensive storage, Ikea is purely and simply essential. The Swedish giant has a particular talent for organizing the wardrobe.
The pro of kit furniture is known for its dressing rooms, but it is nonetheless capable of producing really interesting storage elements. The proof with his Bissa shoe cabinet.
The Bissa wardrobe consists of two lockers, which can accommodate 8 pairs of shoes. Note that it all depends on your shoes: addicts of stilettos or ballerinas will probably be able to put more. Its dimensions remain reasonable: 49 cm wide, 28 cm deep and 93 cm high.
This wardrobe has a very simple but elegant design. Its black brown shade allows it to blend easily into any interior. It is also one of the classic finishes of Ikea: if you have already invested in furniture of the brand, or if you intend to do so, you can easily compose a harmonious whole.
The simple look of this shoe cabinet owes nothing to chance. There is another Ikea specialty: designing elements that can be combined. If you need a larger unit, you can install two Bissa elements side by side.
In use, this model is easy to live with. It is possible to adapt the storage to your needs, since the lockers are equipped with partitions that you can place or remove at will. Robust, this model is also simple to clean, since all it takes is a swipe with a cloth soaked in mild detergent.
Pay attention to the installation: the Bissa wardrobe is delivered as a kit (obviously!) And it must imperatively be fixed to the wall. If the panels are pre-drilled, the fixings can be purchased independently, since the choice depends on the material of your wall.
Finally, we note that the furniture has no background. The idea seems to be to allow your shoes to be properly ventilated. The effect is not necessarily terrible when you open one of the lockers: it all depends on your wall covering and the brightness. But that remains anecdotal!
With the Bissa wardrobe, Ikea offers a compact, elegant and ultra-functional shoe cabinet for a really low price. This discreet little piece of furniture is rarely featured in the aisles of the brand: it is nevertheless a must have for small budgets!
Whitmor : a small price at the top for the dressing room
Whitmor is a family business, founded almost 70 years ago in Mississippi, USA. The brand specializes in storage. From the laundry room to the dressing room, it offers everything you need to organize the house. Its strong point: excellent value for money.
This shoe storage is designed to slip into the wardrobe or dressing room. We appreciate in the first place the quality of the materials and the care given to the finishes.
This model is therefore quite suitable for an open wardrobe, because it displays a very nice design. Little more: the nets located on the side of the lockers, which provide additional storage space, for example for socks and tights.
Whitmor shoe storage allows you to store 10 pairs of shoes. It is fitted with metal hooks which guarantee good stability and excellent resistance over time.
This model has all-purpose dimensions: with a width of 12.7 cm, a depth of 29.2 cm and a height of about 1.32 m, it fits in most standard wardrobes and dressings. We can perhaps regret that the lockers remain modest in size, and that they all have the same format: so do not expect to store all the shoes there (especially the tallest boots), but it is a constant in shoe storage for a wardrobe.
This shoe storage offers a nice storage capacity and it turns out to be really solid, which is already an excellent point for an entry-level model. We also note its design worked with the greatest care: a little more pleasant on a daily basis (and quite rare in this price range!).
If you are looking for a model for wardrobe or dressing room, the Whitmor is undoubtedly one of the most successful on the market.
The best mid-range shoe furniture
Mid-range models fall into two categories.
On the one hand, you will find shoe cabinets with a neat design, which will prove to be decorative enough to find their place in an entrance hall. On the other hand, you will find models with a much more austere look but offering a large storage capacity.
Songmics bamboo : the best of mid-range
Songmics is a recent brand, since it was launched in 2012. It offers a rich catalog of home and garden equipment, as well as a range of accessories and equipment for pets. The brand particularly excels in the design of storage spaces, which are distinguished by their design: simple and functional, they also prove to be robust. Among its pretty successes: this very pretty shoe cabinet, which will find its place in the garage as well as in the entrance.
This model is disarmingly simple, since it simply consists of 3 shelves, i.e. 2 frames, 3 boards and 12 screws. Suffice to say that it is not very complicated to assemble, especially since it comes with everything you need! With dimensions that remain reasonable – 70 cm long by 26 cm deep and 55 cm high – it offers an already honorable storage capacity: 8 to 10 pairs of shoes.
This shoe cabinet displays a versatile look: it will inevitably find its place at home, whatever your type of decoration. We will also appreciate the choice of bamboo: an aesthetic, solid and renewable and recyclable material. And to spoil nothing, it is undemanding in terms of daily maintenance. Unlike a wardrobe, it does not hide shoes. But it is spacious enough that you can store them neatly.
If the Songmics furniture is designed for shoes, it turns out to be very versatile. It is indeed solid enough to accommodate a few pots of flowers, or be diverted to store your books or DVDs. In short: it is a reasonable investment, which you will not miss to amortize in the long term.
If this model is not extra-solid (we will avoid for example turning it into a bench, even if it is tempting!), It is really practical and easy to store at home. Functional and design, it will slip as well in the entry or under the veranda as in the garage. And the days you get tired of it, you will have no trouble finding another use for it!
Songmics cover : a medium design but quite a capacity!
For large families – or shoe addicts! – Songmics offers an XXL format shoe cabinet. With its 9 shelves, this model can effectively accommodate no less than 27 pairs of shoes. Admittedly, it is not necessarily the prettiest model on the market, but it displays a formidable capacity.
Let’s be honest: the Songmics shelving unit is not necessarily very pretty. Admittedly, it displays nice lines and a pleasant cream and chocolate color, but the quality of the materials is not really there.
The structure and the non-woven canvas are largely robust enough to do the job, but the whole gives off an impression all the same very “cheap” – especially since this model is a featherweight (no worry, however: the wardrobe is stable). We will therefore avoid installing this model too in sight, under penalty of giving a blow to the decor.
If the aesthetic aspect therefore leaves something to be desired, assembly is easy. This wardrobe is easy to live with on a daily basis. The scratches holding the curtain are solid, and the zipper is pretty good. We also appreciate the quality of the breathable fabric, which ensures good ventilation.
To offer you such a generous capacity, the Songmics shelving unit has impressive dimensions: 1.60 m high, 50 cm wide and 28 cm deep. This model also has two small side pockets 14 cm side.
This wardrobe may be designed to store shoes, but it turns out to be quite versatile. You can therefore divert or recycle it to store towels, bed linen or clothes.
If you are looking for a decorative model, it is better to go your way. On the other hand, if you need to store a large number of pairs of shoes, the Songmics shelving unit is definitely the model for you.
The best high-end shoe furniture
You can perfectly find a shoe cabinet that blends perfectly with your interior … or even gives it a little extra touch of fantasy! The quality of the materials, as a bonus, is there!
Maisons du Monde Cottage : the best upscale
Maisons du Monde is a brand well known for its neat furniture collections. If the brand is definitely not positioned among the trend creators, it knows very well how to surf the fashions of the moment.
The brand also offers more timeless collections, readily inspired by the ocean coast or country houses. Among its sure values: Cottage, a collection which notably includes a very nice shoe cabinet.
The Cottage collection is made up of various white pine pieces. If you have a nice space at home, you can therefore adopt the shoe cabinet in combination with the ladder shelf or the cloakroom. Maisons du Monde indeed takes an assumed bias: priority to decoration.
This shoe cabinet can therefore go completely unnoticed in the entrance. With its two baskets and two shoe racks, it easily passes for a traditional piece of furniture. The best, if you do not appreciate having a collection of shoes under your nose all the time!
We appreciate the rattan baskets, which bring a touch of charm to the furniture. And they are also very useful for accommodating scarves or handbags: practical in a small hall.
Especially since the dimensions of this model are reasonable (80 cm wide by 93 cm high and 34 cm deep). In terms of capacity, you can expect to store a dozen pairs of shoes: an honorable capacity, if not exceptional.
As always with Maisons du Monde, the quality of the materials and the pretty finishes are there. In this case, it is a veneer of Paulownia, a wood native to Asia which proves to be robust and elegant. Please note: although its structure is made up of medium density panels, the furniture is relatively massive (16 kg all the same).
Alone or in combination with other pieces from the collection, the Cottage shoe cabinet is a very nice model if you are looking for a model to place in the hallway. And it also turns out to be very functional. A safe bet!
Seville Classics : functional and robust
Seville Classics is an American brand established in California. For almost 40 years, it has offered a complete catalog of furniture and accessories for the home.
The brand is particularly effective when it comes to offering high-end storage. Its trademark: functional models made of high quality materials. These extendable shoe racks are a fine example of the expertise of Seville Classics.
With its three levels, this extendable piece of furniture goes straight to the point. Here, no frills, but a structure in solid, resistant and elegant epoxy steel. If the design is simple, nothing “cheap” so far. Not content with being refined, this model is elegant.
This low model will find its place in the entry as well as in the dressing room or in the garage. We note its remarkable capacity: up to 21 shoes when it is at its maximum.
Of course, you are free to adjust it to the space you have, even if it means reducing its capacity a little. For this, you can adjust your shelves from 64.5 cm to 1.18 m.
Note also that unlike too many extendable models, the Seville Classics displays the same outfit and the same resistance, even when extended to the maximum. Of course, steel weighs its weight (3.5 kg when empty), but the structure has impeccable strength and stability.
The design of the Seville Classics model will not appeal to everyone. If you are looking for a piece of furniture capable of hiding shoes from view and completely blending in with the decor, it is better to turn to another model.
On the other hand, if you are looking above all for a functional model, you will necessarily appreciate these shelves. Reliable, robust and practical, they are an excellent investment!
The products of my selection on sale for now
How to choose your shoe cabinet?
Each individual has an average of a dozen shoes. As long as there are 2 of us at home, the situation can quickly turn into chaos (more or less) organized!
The shoe cabinet is therefore essential storage. But before choosing a model, it is essential to ask yourself about the use (and location!) For which you intend it.
In the entry, the shoe cabinet is generally intended to store the pairs of shoes that you use daily. In the dressing room or in the bedroom, it will be a question of storing either a large collection of shoes, or winter shoes in summer (and vice versa).
You can therefore choose to combine two storage spaces – one in the entrance and the other in the bedroom – or opt for an XL model.
The type of furniture
Decoration brands and storage specialists compete in imagination to design a variety of shoe cabinets. There are, however, a few basic models.
Low shelves
Fixed or extendable, the shelves are basic but functional shoe storage. These storage spaces easily find their place in a dressing room at the bottom of the wardrobe.
Decoration enthusiasts appreciate them relatively little, because the shoes are exposed to looks. However, the shelves offer optimum capacity.
The tall shelves
Benefiting from a large storage capacity, these shelves are often intended for the garage. They are equipped with a breathable fabric, intended to protect your shoes from dust.
Shoe cabinet for wardrobe
Made of canvas and possibly reinforced with a solid structure, these models consist of a column of lockers, intended to be hung in the wardrobe.
The boot rack
It has rods that allow you to store your boots optimally, since they will not deform.
In the entrance, we prefer closed furniture with one or more drawers. You can opt for a basic model, like the Ikea Bissa , or prefer a “trompe l’oeil” model, like the Maison du Monde Cottage , which perfectly imitates a chest of drawers or a chiffonnier, for example.
If you have a large collection of shoes to store, you can opt for an extreme option: the shoe closet.
The capacity
To choose the capacity of your shoe cabinet, you must take into account several criteria: the number of people living at home, the space you have as well as the extent of everyone’s shoe collection.
The materials
Shelf or drawer version: the shoe cabinet is put to the test every day! If you do not want to have to renew it every year, it is therefore important to ensure the quality of the materials.
For the structure, we will privilege the metal, which displays an irreproachable behavior. Plastic is much less resistant to heavy loads and the passage of time.
If you choose a closed cabinet, make sure it is breathable. If the fabric proves effective in protecting your shoes from dust, wood remains a safe bet, much more aesthetic.
Organizing storage
Boots or sneakers don’t need the same space! To make the most of the capacity of your shoe cabinet, the ideal is to have a well-organized space.
Wardrobe models rarely have lockers of various sizes. On the other hand, furniture with drawers or shelves can be more flexible. Do not hesitate to choose shelves with varied spacing, or to opt for accessorized drawers.
Versatility
If you don’t have much room in the bedroom or in the hallway, you can choose an accessorized shoe cabinet. You can find a model surmounted by a full-length mirror, or equipped with additional storage, in which to slip your keys, scarves or handbag.
The budget
The price of a shoe cabinet depends on several criteria: the type of furniture, the materials and the capacity.
Count from 15 to 50 € for a wardrobe shoe rack and 20 to 100 € for low shelves.
On the furniture side, the bill can soar and greatly exceed 100 €. The shoe closet is the most expensive option: from € 1,400 for a tailor-made model.
Ease of maintenance
By definition, shoes are made for walking. Even if you take the trouble to clean them before placing them in the shoe cabinet, your storage is likely to be exposed to frequent dirt.
To make life easier on a daily basis, we will therefore choose a model that is easy to clean!
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